A separable robotic interface is provided. The separable robotic interface includes a carrier portion, configured to attach to a free end of a robotic arm, and a probe portion, configured to be attached to a toolhead. The carrier portion includes a spring-loaded plug, coaxial with and arranged to slide lengthwise within the carrier portion, one or more ball bearings, arranged within holes of the carrier portion, and an axial lock feature. The probe portion may include a probe, which includes one or more recesses on lateral exterior surfaces of the probe and configured to receive ball bearings in order to axially lock the carrier portion to the probe portion in response to the probe portion inserted a predetermined distance into the carrier portion and the axial lock feature is activated. The probe portion is further configured to radially align with the carrier portion in response to an alignment feature engages the carrier portion.

Examples described herein are directed to methods, computer-readable media, and systems for controlling an end of arm tool with one or more suction zones to pick up an item. Sensor data regarding the item is obtained. The sensor data is used to determine which of the one or more suction zones should be used to pick up the item. A rotational orientation is also determined that orients the determined suction zone(s) with the item. The end of arm tool is then instructed to create a suction force at the one or more suction zones and to pick up the item using the suction force.

In a robot (1) for gripping and/or holding objects (2), in particular workpieces, tools or carrier parts, the robot comprising: at least one robot arm (3, 4, 5) which is supported on a support frame (19) and is movable in space in at least one translational and/or rotational degree of freedom, a gripping and/or holding device (6), on which the respective object (2) is supported in a positionally oriented manner and/or held in a rotational arrangement, at least one electric motor (9) provided in the gripping and/or holding device (6), by means of which a torque and/or a clamping force is generated which acts on the object (2), and a drive shaft (24) mounted in the robot arm (5), which is coupled in a driving manner to the gripping and/or holding device (6), preferably in such a way that the gripping and/or holding device (6) rotates about its own longitudinal axis (6),
the gripping and/or holding device (6) arranged at the free end of the robot arm (5) should be freely movable in space, so that rotation about its own longitudinal axis (6) can be carried out as often and as quickly as desired. This is achieved in that an interface (31) is provided between a free end (10) of the robot arm (5) at the end and the gripping and/or holding device (6), which interface (31) is bridged by a coupler (25) fixed in a non-rotating arrangement to the robot arm (5) and by a flange (11) adapted thereto, which flange (11) is connected in a non-rotating arrangement to the gripping and/or holding device (6) and the drive shaft (24), in that a first inductively operated transceiver (12) is provided in the coupler (25), which transceiver (12) is connected to a power source (15) via an electrical line (14) fed to the robot arm (5), in that a second inductively operated transceiver (13) is provided in the flange (11), which is connected to the electric motor (9) in the gripping and/or holding device (6) via electrical lines (14), and in that an air gap (21) is provided between the coupler (25) and the flange (11) as a component of the interface (31).

A method for operating a robotic joint of a robotic system comprising selectively operating a clutch mechanism of a clutched joint module in an engaged state to cause a quasi-passive elastic actuator to enter an elastic state, the clutched joint module operating about and defining a joint of the robotic system. The method comprising effecting a first rotation of the joint to cause the quasi-passive elastic actuator to store energy during at least a portion of the rotation of the joint. The method comprising effecting a second rotation of the joint and causing the stored energy from the quasi-passive elastic actuator to be released in the form of an augmented torque applied to an output member of the clutched joint module. The method comprising selectively operating the clutch mechanism in a disengaged state to cause the quasi-passive elastic actuator to enter an inelastic state. The method comprising effecting a third rotation of the joint, wherein the quasi-passive elastic actuator facilitates a free swing mode of the clutched joint module and the joint.

Building material installation equipment includes: a sucking device for sucking panels, a rotating device for driving the sucking device to rotate, a cross translation device, a swinging device and a mechanical arm; a slip ring is arranged in the rotating device and electrically connected with the sucking device; the cross translation device comprises longitudinal translation plate and transverse translation plate which are capable of driving the sucking device to make a translational movement; the longitudinal translation plate and the transverse translation plate are arranged in a direction parallel to gravity, and are fitted; and the swinging device can drive the cross translation device to swing to one side of the mechanical arm.

A robotic arm having at least pair of structural members rotatably coupled to one another, with a first one of the structural members defining a central passage. A communications link is at least partially within the robotic arm for signal transmission between within the robotic arm. The communications link includes a signal transmission device having a coiled portion, with ends of the coiled portion adapted to be connected to parts of the communications link, whereby the coiled portion is a segment of the communications link. The coiled portion has one of its ends connected to the second one of the structural members to rotate with the second one of the structural members, the other of the ends of the coiled portion connected to a component associated with the first one of the structural members through the central passage to rotate with the first one of the structural members, at least a portion of the coiled portion expanding or contracting radially during relative rotation between the pair of structural members.

A cable harness management module for a robot joint and a robot including at least one robot joint having such a cable harness management module. The cable harness management module includes a base plate and a rotatable element which matches with the base plate and can rotate relative to the base plate. At least the base plate and the rotatable element form a space for receiving the cable harness including a first end and a second end. The cable harness management module further includes a first fastening member for fastening the first end onto the base plate, and a second fastening member for fastening member for fastening the second end onto the rotatable element. The cable harness can reel on the rotatable element or unreel therefrom when the rotatable element rotates with the robot joint. The cable harness management module may also include a mounting member for removably mounting the base plate to the robot joint. The cable harness management module protects the cable harness inside the compact space from abrasion and lengthen the lifetime of the cable harness.

Cable routing approaches are described that allow cables to pass through a traditional chain joint without reducing the strength capacity or impairing the range of motion of the joint. The cable routing approaches permit the cables to be housed inside the structure of the robotic arm and pass through the chain joint in a manner that does not limit the width of the chain.

Provided is a robot including: a base; and a movable portion including a rotating drum that rotates about a vertical axis with respect to the base. The base is provided with an opening portion through which wire members are led into the base; the base and the rotating drum are provided with a hollow portion in which the wire members are guided into the rotating drum; the robot further includes a distribution board member that is detachably attached to the base; the distribution board member is provided with an attachment portion that is attached to the base, and a relay portion that is disposed on the outside of the opening portion with a gap therebetween; and the relay portion includes a mountable region in which a connector that relays some of the wire members is mounted.

Provided is an industrial robot that includes: a second arm that is provided, at the distal end of a first arm pivotable about a first axis, in a pivotable manner about a second axis parallel to the first axis; and a wrist that is disposed at the distal end of the second arm and that has a plurality of wrist elements, and including the first wrist element provided in a rotatable manner about a longitudinal axis of the second arm. Motors and that drive the wrist elements, are accommodated in a space inside the first wrist element. The second arm is provided with a hollow portion that communicates with the space. A cable to be wired to the motors is wired into the hollow portion from the outside of the second arm and is relayed by a connector fixed to the wall section at the position of the through-hole.